Abstract A trim strip assembly comprising two elements, one of these being a retainer element and the other being a cooperative insert strip element. The retainer element has a base strip which is adapted to be secured to a support; at the edges of the base strip there are opposed inwardly turned flanges. There is a tongue on each flange projecting toward the base strip. The cooperative insert strip element has a decorative surface strip which is generally arcuate in cross-section. Along each edge of the surface strip there is a groove, and the grooves are tightly engaged with the tongues in the assembled condition of the elements. Each one of the two elements is transversely elastically deformable for ease of assembly and disassembly. In the assembled condition, the insert element is in firm elastic engagement at its edges with the base strip, being biased into that condition by the opposed and inwardly turned flanges on the base strip with which the grooves engage by way of the tongues on the flanges. The decoratable strip on the insert is provided with a decorative laminate.
A decorative trim strip comprising, a retainer element of non-metallic plastic having a base portion adapted to be secured to a support, a pair of opposed flanges along the side edges of said base portion, said flanges extending upwardly and inwardly of said base portion and being elastically deformable upwardly relative thereto, a tongue on each flange located inwardly of the corresponding side edges of said base portion and projecting toward said base portion, said tongues being laterally spaced apart a first distance, and a generally arcuate non-metallic plastic insert element having opposite side portions each positionable between and in sealing engagement with both a corresponding one of said flanges and the underlying surface of said base portion, each of said side portions including a groove on the convex side of said insert element for receiving the corresponding one of said tongues, said grooves being laterally spaced apart a second distance greater than said first distance and said arcuate insert element being elastically deformable about its longitudinal axis, both said flanges and said insert element being elastically deformed in the manner described upon assembly of said insert element and retainer element for said grooves to receive said tongues, whereby said first and second distances become generally equal and both said elastically deformed flanges and insert element are biased toward their undeformed dispositions to thereby cooperatively provide tight sealing engagement both between said tongues and grooves and between said side portions and base portion.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
243 words
A decorative trim strip comprising, a retainer element of non-metallic plastic having a base portion adapted to be secured to a support, a pair of opposed flanges along the side edges of said base portion, said flanges extending upwardly and inwardly of said base portion and being elastically deformable upwardly relative thereto, a tongue on each flange located inwardly of the corresponding side edges of said base portion and projecting toward said base portion, said tongues being laterally spaced apart a first distance, and a generally arcuate non-metallic plastic insert element having opposite side portions each positionable between and in sealing engagement with both a corresponding one of said flanges and the underlying surface of said base portion, each of said side portions including a groove on the convex side of said insert element for receiving the corresponding one of said tongues, said grooves being laterally spaced apart a second distance greater than said first distance and said arcuate insert element being elastically deformable about its longitudinal axis, both said flanges and said insert element being elastically deformed in the manner described upon assembly of said insert element and retainer element for said grooves to receive said tongues, whereby said first and second distances become generally equal and both said elastically deformed flanges and insert element are biased toward their undeformed dispositions to thereby cooperatively provide tight sealing engagement both between said tongues and grooves and between said side portions and base portion.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
45 words
The trim strip according to claim 1, and beads extending along said insert element laterally inwardly of said grooves and cooperable with said tongues to limit lateral outward movement of said side portions of said insert when said retainer element and insert element are assembled.